Long history of neglect to blame
29.11.2004
Comment
LAST Friday's riot and fire-bombing of public buildings on Palm Island, off Townsville, was a direct response to a long history of neglect by government and island officials, who are now ducking for cover.
So let's get a couple of things straight from the start.
First, grog was not involved in fuelling the anger that exploded when the Cameron Doomadgee autopsy findings were read out. Sure, grog is a continuing problem on Palm Island, but in this case the canteen had been closed since the previous Tuesday.
Second, it is both outrageous and unbelievable in this day and age that, when someone such as Doomadgee dies in circumstances that are clearly suspicious, the authorities do not take it seriously.
Too harsh an assessment, you say? Well, just ask Doomadgee's family how they are feeling. In the 10 days since his death, they have not been attended to by professional counsellors.
Who is to blame? For starters, how about Peter Beattie, because the buck stops with him. But add his Aboriginal Policy Minister, Liddy Clark, who has been deafeningly silent, and throw in the Palm Island Council, too.
It is the job of elected officials to take the initiative when an incident as serious as a death in custody occurs. But nobody did. Great public fuss was made at daily public meetings on the island, serving only to inflame a most volatile situation. The leadership on the island at all levels was found seriously wanting.
It is very fortunate nobody was injured or killed. The police on whom the crowd turned were fearful for their lives, and an immediate police reaction was in everyone's interests. But to see a population traumatised by a death in custody being herded around and terrorised by armed police in riot gear, including shields, automatic rifles and balaclavas, was over the top.
It is one of the saddest events I have witnessed in more than 20 years visiting this and other Aboriginal communities.
A man is dead. Thirteen have been arrested and will face court -- with several no doubt to face arson charges that could see them jailed for 10 years. All for a moment of madness that could have been avoided. The effect on already fragile children on this sad island will be immense.
Is anyone talking about getting them counselled or helped in any way? No. Instead, their school has been taken over by police. Their classrooms are now police bedrooms, and there will be no school for the last weeks of this year.
What chance do these children have when adults and officials are so derelict as to allow this to eventuate? The saddest thing of all is that this would not have been allowed to happen in a white community.
